Animal ration

ABSTRACT

A method of caring for axenic animals is disclosed. The animals are fed a ration containing their entire requirements of water and nutritional materials packaged in a container which can be opened by the animal and which is sterilized before being introduced to the animals. The ration is in the form of a stable gel containing 70-80 percent water.

United States Patent Shelton et al.

[ 1 Jan. 18,1972

[541 ANIMAL RATION [72] Inventors: Damon C. Shelton, St. Louisrcurtls E.

Blankenship, Manchester, both of Mo.

[73] Assignee: Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1968 [21] Appl. No.: 756,405

52 u.s.c1. ..99/2R,99/l31 s1 lm.Cl. ..A23k 1/00 58 Field ofSearch ..99/166, 171 11, 171 LP,2, 171,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,380,134 7/1945 Waters .f. ..99/214 2,593,577 4/1952 Lewis 2,951,765 9/1960 Robson... 3,132,029 5/1964 Beck 3,215,539 11/1965 Landy Primary Examiner-Norman Yudkoff Assistant Examiner-Curtis P. Ribando Attorney-Robert W. Brukardt [57] ABSTRACT 6 Claims, No Drawings ANIMAL RATION Modern research is demanding an increasing number of laboratory animals which are free of disease, parasites, and extraneous contamination. To provide animals meeting these criteria, it is necessary to rear the animals in a completely isolated environment and to take great precautions to avoid contaminating the animals. The technique of caring for germ-free or axenic animals is quite complicated, expensive and time consuming. It is common for breeders to derive the colonies by a Caesarean section to avoid contamination occurring in normal birth. After birth, the animals are maintained in an isolated, sterile container or isolator throughout their growth span. Special containers are used to ship the animals to the users so that the animals arrive in a sterile condition.

Feeding, watering and caring for the animals requires constant precautions to avoid contamination. All feed, water and bedding used must be sterile and must be used in a way that prevents contamination of the animal colony. This has been a considerable problem for the industry. To prevent contamination it is commonplace to sterilize all feed, water and bedding by autoclaving. The feed, water and bedding are usually subjected to steam at a pressure of about pounds per square inch and a temperature of about 250 F to kill the microbes present. The sterilized material is then transferred to the sterile isolator through a transfer sleeve (an air lock device which usually is sterilized with peracetic acid). Elaborate precautions must be taken to insure that no contamination is introduced to the isolator through the transfer sleeve. This procedure is time consuming and costly. Following the accepted procedure does not insure that the material introduced to the container will be sterile, however. The process of sterilization must be carried out long enough to kill all the micro-organisms in the feed, water and bedding. This introduces an additional complicating factor. If the feed is heated too long, a substantial portion of the nutritional value is destroyed. If the feed is not heated long enough, the feed in the center of the mass is not heated to a temperature sufficient to kill the microbes. Adding heat-stable supplements to the feed erq ensive and only partr 'ally successful in extending Germ-lFree Laboratory Animals, by Richard B. Westcott and John A. Gardner. (Technical Manuscript 7, U. S. Army Chemical Corps Research and Development Command, U. S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Maryland, 1962) and in The Development of Specific Pathogen Free and Germfree Animals, by Henry L. Foster (Bio-Medical Purview, Fall 1961).

The invention described here provides a method of caring for laboratory animals which reduces the possibility of contamination of the animals through the feed and water supply and through manipulation of the means of introducing feed and water to the animals. Feed and water are introduced to the animals in a novel sealed and sterile form which the animals can open and consume ad libitum. Feed and water are packaged in a way to form a novel gelled feed and water composition which provides a complete ration and which is stable when introduced to laboratory animals.

It would eliminate much of the difficulty in providing for axenic, gnotobiote, or specific pathogen free animals if the feed and water could be introduced together as a stable gel. By introducing the water as a gel all of the considerable difliculties of handling water and water bottles are avoided. If the feed and water were contained in flexible, penetrable packages which would maintain their contents in a stable, sterile form for a relatively long period of time, the material could be manufactured in large quantities, stored, and subjected to a simple, surface sterilization prior to introducing it to the animals. The animals could penetrate the flexible package by chewing through the material and obtain food and water ad libitum.

The composition of the gel should be such that the nutritional requirements of the animals are satisfied and enough water is provided to meet the optimum water requirements of the animals. Generally, a gel containing to percent water, 5 to 15 percent protein, 10 to 25 percent carbohydrates, 0.5 to 2.5 percent fat, and 0.5 to 1.5 percent fiber, is satisfactory. The following table provides the composition which will provide a stable, gelled product having the desired nutritionalcharacteristics.

TABLE I Nutrient composition of gel, percent by weight Percent by Garbo- Ingredients of gel Weight Protein hydrate Fat Fibre Soybean meal or flakes 1-9 .5-4. 5 3-2. 9 0-. 3 0-. 3

Ground corn or rui1o Flshrneal or fish flour Wheat middlings or flour- Meat meal or liver meaL. Alfalfa meal or #1 allalla Ground cats or oat greats" Ground wheat or wheat flo Molasses or syrup Corn 011, vegetable 0 Water Another drawbaclt of present methods of providing feed to isolators is the necessity of storing quantities of feed in the isolator to avoid daily manipulation of the transfer sleeve. The

stored feed occupies space which could be u sed more 60.

profitably to raise animals. A detailed discussion of the problems of raising axenic animals can be found in Ap-' paratus and Method for the Steam Sterilization ofFood fg;

the time of heating to a point to insure sterilization of thefeed. 55 We ha TABLE II Nutrient composition of gel, percent by weight Percent by Garbo- Ingredients oi gel weight Protein hydrate Fat Fibre Soybean meal or flakes 4. 3-5. 7 2. 1-2. 9 1. 4-1. 8 0-. 2 1-. 2 Ground corn or m1l0 10-14 9-1. 3 6. 9-10 3-. 5 3-. 4 Flshmeal or fish flour 4 Molasses or syrup. Corn oil, vegetable or Water riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, lolic acid, biotin, and pantothenic acid.

3 4 In addition to the nutrients given in tables I and [I it may be EXAMPLE I desireable to provide additional supplementation of vitamins and minerals that the particular laboratory animals may The dried components were mixed in a mixer and inrequire. Phosphorus, sodium chloride, and additional vitamin troduced to a .lacobsen Hammer Mill equipped with u l-milare common supplements which may be added to the comlimeter screen. The mixture was ground to a fineness sufi'icient position, Normally, the total su lementation will not ex e d to pass through the l-millimeter screen. The ground mixture about 2 percent by weight of the stable water-nutrient gel. was then remixed to insure that no segregation of ingredients Preferred fonnulas for providing a completely balanced ration existed. The mixed dry ingredients where then introduced into are shown by table III. g lo a large container and 74 percent by weight added moisture TABLE III Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Soybean flakes, percent 30. 0O 18. 36 16.32 18 13 19. 69 35. 20 18. 75 20.00 Ground yellow corn 41.72 43.80 38. 93 45 42 45.00 5.00 51.85 47.70 Fish meal 7.00 7.34 6.63 7 83 7.87 15.03 1.00 8.00 Wheat mldds. 5.43 5. 59 5.06 5 07 0.10 10.91 0. 74 6. 20 Meat meal 3. 50 3. 67 3. 26 3. 91 3. 93 7. 04 4. 35 4. 00 Dehydrated alfalfa meal 1. 75 1.83 1. 63 1. 95 1. 9s 3. 52 2.17 2.00 Ground oats 1. 75 10. 00 1. 63 1. 95 1.96 3. 52 2.17 2. 00 Ground wheat 1. 75 1. 83 20.00 1 95 1.90 3.52 2.17 2.00 Molasses 2. 63 2. 75 2. 44 5. 00 2. 95 5. 28 3. 26 3.00 Defiuorinated phosphate .88 99 .81 2. 93 98 1. 76 1.09 1. 00 Methionine .09 .09 .08 97 09 18 11 10 Vitamins 1 1 75 1.83 1.63 1. 95 1 96 3.52 2.17 2.00 44 .45 46 .48 49 .88 .54 .50

1 31 1 37 1.22 1 46 5.00 1.63 1.50 Sodium alginate 2. 00 2. 00 2. 00 Soybean meal 30.00 13 29 Ground mllo 00100 l The vitamin supplement was a combination of vitamins commercially available from Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, Mo. under the name, Micropremlx 60100. It contained vitamins A, D, E, and K, thiamin,

The proportions in table III are given on a dry basis. The dry was introduced. The temperature of the added moisture was mixture of table [II is mixed with sufficient water to give it a 30 maintained between about l40 and l90 F. (The elevated total moisture content of 70 to 80 percent. A mixing ratio of temperature helps in killing off any organisms that are present 2.8 parts water to 1 part dry mixture, by weight, provides 74 in the feed; l50-l60 F. is a satisfactory range.) The water percent added moisture or a total moisture content of about and dry material were mixed with an agitator for approximate- 76 percent by weight. If desired, it is possible to add mold in- .ly 5 minutes to obtain a uniform slurry. The slurry was hibitors to the product. Table IV shows several mold inhibitors pumped from the mixing vessel to a filling machine where it which have been found efiective in the stabled gel composi-' ,was introduced into the pouches. The pouches were filled so tion. The portion of mold inhibitor added is calculated on the .that approximately 1 lb. of product was placed in each pouch. basis of the dry material in the stabled gel. After filling, the pouches were vacuum heat sealed. The heat 1 sealed pouches were placed in a rack having slots three- TABLE Iv 40 fourths inch wide. The narrow width of the slots was necessary Ito insure that the pouches did not bulge to a thickness suffi cient to cause cool spots in the center of the pouch (places Mold hlhibi'l" by weigh my h 4 where the material is not heated sufficiently to kill any organ- 5 isms present). After the pouches were placed in the retort izg l g 8-: racks the pouches and racks were placed in a retort and L Glycol heated to a temperature of 250 F. Dunng processing an addi- (Rephces water) tional 9-10 pounds of superimposed air pressure was main- Cane Sugar 5.0 tained on the retort to prevent rupturing the packages by gslgz zi fi 1 generation of internal steam. [See Flexible Packages Now Withstand Heat-Processing Temperatures of Foods," by Florren E. Long (Package Engineering, Mar. 1962).] The time of treatment was approximately 25 minutes to reach 250 F., 20

The mixed Wa r and nutrient material is Packaged in a flat, minutes at 250 F., and 20 minutes cooling time. The pouches rectangular Pouch formed Suitable hhh material- The were at ambient temperature when removed from the retort. ture is vacuum heat sealed in the POUCh and heated to form a when removed from the atoning process the in the sterile, stable gel. The pouch is preferably formed of a threepouches was in the f fa stable gel ply lamina. A lamina of aluminum foil bonded to a ply of j The ground material disperses well in the hot water and can Polyester one Side and fused with 3 P y f P y y i be processed directly if agitated until the packages are filled. the Second Side has P to be ohior satisfactoryother mm 1 However, if the slurried material is held at rest for a sufi'lcient materials may be used for some applications. A discussion of length of time (over 1 to 2 h without agitation, the solid suitab fi and their Properties can be found in Flexible 1 material will settle out. If it is necessary to hold the material Packages Now Withstand Heat-Processing Temperatures of f some i without agitationY a dispersing agent can b .Foods. y Florwn v g ag Engineering, added to the material. It is important to avoid adding too 1962). Additional information can befound in Bacterial Reu h dispersing agent, however, in order to preserve the sis 0f Films, y R Gl'ifi'm e! (Modem Packaging I proper propoltion of water and nutrients in a stable gel. We Oct. 1 7) and n Heat Processing of vegetables in Flexiblel have found that a highly refined sodium alginate of 150 mesh F y Gould 61 (Research Bulletin Ohio particle size is efi'ective in maintaining the nutrients in a Agricultural Experiment Station, woosteh Ohio, P dispersed state when added in'the amounts of 0.4 to 1 percent The Pouch can be formed in Several Sizes; Pounce, r by weight of the stable gel. 0.5 percent of sodium alginate and 1 Packages are the host convenient Sizes for feedmaintained a sample of the material used in example 1 in ing laboratory animals. Th f rmul Show" in table I, 3 suspension for morethan 6 hours. A satisfactory sodium alcolumn 10, was used to produce a batch of l-pound packages i ginate may be obtained from the Kelco Company, Chicago, Ill. of a gelled material. The material was processed by the followunder the trade name of Keltone.

ing method: The method of example 1 has also been used successfully to package several experimental batches of 4-01. and 8-02. packages, which have been used in feeding studies with laboratory animals. In one test an experimental shipment of Wistar rats was sent from Staatsburg, NY. to St. Louis, Mo. The shipment consisted of six cartons of animals. Each carton contained rats. Two 4-02. pouches of the stable feed and water gel were placed in each carton as the only source of food and water for the animals. The exterior surfaces of the pouches were sterilized with Wescodyne solution, a soluble iodine solution, prior to being introduced to the animals. The cartons were sealed and the animals were placed in transit. The animals were housed in the cartons for approximately l0 hours. When the animals were removed from the cartons, they were examined and found to be in excellent health. The pouches in each carton had been penetrated by the animals. The feed and water remained in a stable gel form and did not flow out of the open pouches. The animals consumed their requirement of food and water through the penetrated area of the pouch. At the end of the experiment, the animals exhibited no desire for additional water, indicating no substantial dehydration of the animals during transit. The stable feed and water gel was equivalent to water provided to the animals ad libitum.

A series of breeding experiments has been conducted using the stable feed and water gel to determine its value as a complete ration, and to duplicate its use as a sustaining ration for axenic animals. To date, four generations of animals have received the stable feed and water gel exclusively since weaning. TableV summarizes the results of the first generation growing study. The stable gel provided the entire water and nutritional requirement for the animals in the test group with good growth and no mortalities, though there was a mortality in the control group. Reproduction of the animals fed the gel has been excellent, averaging about 12 live pups per litter in the test group.

TABLE V Water ad libitum and Feed Adjusted laboratory water to air, ration gel dry basis Count; started 10 Count finished $1) Percent mortality 10. 00 Average Weights (gram):

Initial 52.0 7 days- 87. 7 14 days- 126. 3 21 days. 169. 6 28 days 200. 2 Average gain 0-28 days (gram 148, 2 Grams feed consumed/rat: 0' days 80.7 7-14 days. 118.2 13 14-21 days-. 134.1 13 21-28 days 141. 8 16 0-28 da 5 474. 8 52 Grams feed ram dayi 2. 26 2. 7-14 days- 3. 06 9. 44 3.15 14-21 days. 3.10 10. 97 3. 66 21-28 days.. 4. 62 15. 81 5. 27 028 days 3.20 10. 84 3. 61

The packages of gelled feed and water can be introduced directly into the cages to provide nourishment for the animals, however, to maintain the animals in their axenic condition it is necessary to introduce the packages to the animals in a way which prevents contamination. A satisfactory method is as follows:

EXAMPLE 2 An isolator unit is provided with a germicide trough which provides an opening to the isolator. The trough may be of the V" trap type having the trap sealed with Wescodyne solution or a similar germicide. The packages of gelled feed and water are introduced through the exterior leg of the V" into the trap of germicide. The packages remain in the gerrnicide solution for a length of time sufficient to destroy any organisms on their surfaces. The packages are transferred into the isolator through the connecting leg of the V? by manipulation of the Neoprene gloves mounted in the isolator wall. The packages are then introduced into the animals cages. The animals receive their entire supply of food and water from the packages. it is not necessary to store quantities of food and water in the isolator since a fresh package can be introduced daily if necessary. The space in the isolator which would have been occupied by the stored feed and water can be used to house additional animals. The production of axenic animals is rendered more efficient because a greater number of animals can be raised in a given space. The possibility of contaminating the animals is minimized since the feed and water are introduced to the animals in a sterile form without the necessity of using the transfer sleeve.

We claim:

3. A method of sustaining axenic and gnotobiotic laboratory animals within a confined area, isolated from all other nonsteriie living things in a sterile condition without a supplemental source of water comprising:

a. mixing a gel forming animal feed with water to form a mixture containing between 70 and percent by weight water,

b. packaging the mixed feed and water in a flexible container which is impenetrable to contaminating organisms, but is penetrable by the laboratory animals,

c. heating the container to about 250 F. to sterilize the product,

d. forming a stable gel of the feed and water, and

e. introducing the container to the confined area accessible to the said animals in a sterile condition, whereby the animals can penetrate the container to obtain food and water without being exposed to extraneous contamination.

2. The method of claim 11 wherein the feed and water gel contains between 74 and 77 percent by weight water.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the stable gel contains 74-77 percent water, 6-8 percent protein, 12-18 percent car bohydrate, 0.7-1.5 percent fat, and 0.9-l .3 percent fiber.

4. The method of claim ll wherein the nutrient and water mixture is heated to a temperature of to F. prior to filling the flexible containers.

5. The method of claim ll wherein a dispersing agent is added to the nutrient and water mixture.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the dispersing agent is sodium alginate. 

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the feed and water gel contains between 74 and 77 percent by weight water.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the stable gel contains 74-77 percent water, 6-8 percent protein, 12-18 percent carbohydrate, 0.7-1.5 percent fat, and 0.9-1.3 percent fiber.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the nutrient and water mixture is heated to a temperature of 140* to 190* F. prior to filling the flexible containers.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein a dispersing agent is added to the nutrient and water mixture.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the dispersing agent is sodium alginate. 